"Bugs" wrote in message
oups.com...
It's quicker and almost as accurate to clamp a dial gage or indicator
in the chuck and check the alignment of an installed center in the
tailstock. It will immediately tell whether the tailstock is low or
high, as well as horizontal alignment.
Bugs

Assuming your centers are properly ground, I still like the crude but simple
method of pinning a parallel between the centers, then adjusting the
tailstock to null the offset of the piece from perpendicular. Care should
be taken to get it pretty close before locking the tailstock, lest you
damage either the centers or the parallel bar.

LLoyd